By Elizabeth Osayande 

For a 72-year-old man, a Professor to write a book after 30 years of writing the first edition, speaks volumes. 

Recently, the former Vice-Chancellor, Pan-Atlantic University, PAU, Prof. Juan Manuel Elegido, unveiled his book, “Fundamentals of Business Ethics: A Developing Country in Perspective,”(second edition) in the presence of scholars, teachers, business executives,  and managers, among others. 

Elegido, an authority in the field of business ethics is recognised as one of the top 10% most highly cited scholars worldwide in the Social Science Research Network.

In a chat with Vanguard, one of the founding staff members of Lagos Business School, LBS, a former Dean, and author of six books, whose contributions to academia and the corporate world are unparalleled, shares his reasons for coming out with the book. 

Tell us about the book

Fundamentals of Business Ethics: A Developing Country in Perspective,” second edition is a realistic book on business ethics. I think what is special is that it was written, having in mind practising managers and executives.

For instance, it is not enough to say, don’t take bribes. But how to manage the issue when you are being faced with such offers? Again, it is packed with practical examples.

How come you are writing this after 30 years of the first edition?

Some issues are quite different. First of all, there are areas in which I think I didn’t do so well in the first edition. And then with life, you learn more. So, for instance, the chapters on pricing; environmental ethics; and corporate social responsibility.

I have had to change some fundamental things. Then there are problems and issues now that didn’t exist almost 30 years ago. For instance, there is an important issue nowadays, the relationships of business organizations with NGOs. There was very little of that 30 years ago. Now it is very important. For instance, the issue of lobbying to influence businesses trying to influence the laws and the decisions of the government. All of these didn’t even appear in the first edition.

With this in mind, if you are going to have a good book, you have to show that you are aware of the environment. And you refer to this famous case or that famous case. For instance, all the consequences in Nigeria of the banking crisis. In 2010 and 2011, there were many lessons for ethics from that banking crisis.

Prof, do you see this book transforming the Nigerian business space?

Prof. Elegido: I mean, I will be sincere to you. I don’t believe that you write a book and you transform any business space.

Nigeria is a country with 200 million people and many businesses. It is very difficult to change things overnight. So if you are realistic, what you can aspire to is simply to say, well, I am doing my bit, I hope other people will do their bit, and eventually, Nigeria will become the great country that it has the right to expect.